Most women dream of having large breasts, or at least larger for that matter. What you may not know; however, is that many patients actually require surgery to reduce their breast size. It is important to note that it can be considered a medical condition if a woman’s cup size causes pain or discomfort. In most cases, the area affected is the back. Being too top heavy weight can put a lot of strain on the spine, which is why plastic surgeons advise women seeking breast augmentation procedures to not exceed a certain breast size. In any event, if you are a woman who has larger than average breasts and are experiencing discomfort, be sure to get in touch with your plastic surgeon as soon as possible.

It should be noted that spinal injuries, including herniated discs, are not always painful in their early stages. Waiting until the problem worsens is not something you want to do, due to the serious complications a ruptured disc can have. Here are some helpful tips for knowing when it may be a good idea to schedule a breast reduction operation. Being able to finally get relief from persistent neck, back and shoulder aches and pain is a definite reason to have the procedure performed. As well, the majority of breast reduction patients often feel better about the way they look afterwards, as their bosom ends up being more proportional to the rest of their body.

When should you get a breast reduction surgery?

A breast reduction surgery or reduction mammaplasty, as it referred to by plastic surgeons, is typically recommended for women who are overweight. There are many risks and complications associated with obesity, and oversized breasts are one of them. It is not uncommon for overweight women to have serious spinal issues, as well as headaches, poor posture, bra strapping and other symptoms caused by excess strain. Most insurance companies will cover the cost of breast reduction surgery for patients who have a high proportion of breast tissue. The test used to conduct whether or not a patient is eligible is called a BSA (body surface area) test.

Women who have an ideal or higher Body Mass Index (BMI) can both benefit from breast reduction, although women with a BMI of less than 30 are typically the best candidates for the reduction procedure.

If your breast size fluctuates considerably with when you gain or lose weight, don’t get a reduction mammaplasty until you have reached a weight you are comfortable with. The reason being that your breast size could be reduced considerably in the future if you do slim down. When talking with a plastic surgeon, make sure to tell them if this is the case.

Get one if you don’t like the way you look; you don’t have to be in pain or have a medical reason to get the operation. If everything checks out health wise, a breast reduction can be a great way to improve your appearance and self-esteem.

This article was written by McLean Clinic. You can learn more about our services by visiting us at